Month: April 2010

We went to Chimney Rock Park in Chimney Rock, NC near Lake Lure today. Lake Lure is where parts of Dirty Dancing were filmed!

We first hiked out the Hickory Nut Falls Trail. There were a LOT of stairs but we managed. In fact I did all but about 30 of them. Considering there were over 200 I was pleased, as were Mommy and Daddy who didn’t have to carry me those extra stairs.

I liked climbing the big rock with big brother. We built a rock sculpture on top of the rock.

I even walked today. The rule was I HAD to be holding a hand because just a few feet away way a HUGE drop off.

We climbed up a few more rocks for pictures.

Almost there. I am giving up and Daddy will now have to carry me!

ThE FALLS! There it is! 404 feet of falling water!

The water pouring over today was kind of slow but in peak season it is huge.

What a view.

I found a stick and little puddle to play in at the top. In fact I found lots of sticks (rocks, twigs, leaves, flowers, bugs and dirt) and lots of puddles in which to play. There were lots of places wehre the water was seemingly bubbling between the rocks. It was really neat.

On the way down I wanted to gallop the whole way, even over steps and down steep hills. I finally gave up and opted for walking backwards. Daddy obliged since I was at least walking and not needing carried.

When we got back to the beginning we took an elevator up 26 stories to the almost top of the chimney. First we had to walk through a really neat tunnel.

At the top with a nervous Daddy and Mommy. We were both full of energy and wanting to walk around without holding hands.

At the top of the mountain (well almost top) there is a gift shop and we each got to pick out something unique. We picked mining helmets! 🙂 Aren’t they the coolest!

After the BIG hike we took a smaller one that was a bit less than a mile through the “Great Woodlands Adventure”. We learned all about the animals in the mountains. The salamanders seemed pretty cool.

I liked playing the turtles like drums until a REAL salamander nearly ran across my foot. Too bad Breighton missed it, he has been looking for one for several days now.

There was a giant frog!

I posed for a picture with a nut. I know it is hard to tell which one is me and which one is the nut! I am wearing a red-orange shirt! 🙂

What a fun day out. I took a short nap in the car and was ready to do more. We ate a nice dinner, visited a toy store and stopped by the playground on the way home.

Off to bed now!

Today we opted for a long drive up the parkway to go to a cavern. We made a lot of fun stops along the way.

We hiked a bit on Mount Mitchell. We found snow to play in.

Breighton and me at the official marked highest point east of the Mississippi River and south of Canada.

Breighton tried to throw me over the rail, HONEST!

What an amazing view!!

Pointing to Asheville!

I was playing peek-a-boo behind the sign and it took Mommy a few shots to get me in the picture!

I just wanted to play in the snow.

So much, in fact, that I was actually willing to walk today!!!

Off to look for more snow!!!

Okay, wait, carry me a bit more!

Okay, I will play in the little stream!

Having a blast on the mountains.

Finally the big patch of snow again. Breighton kept sitting in it and getting all nasty wet and dirty.

SNOW SNOW SNOW! Mama put rock IN snow!

We finally got to the caverns and I fell asleep in the car just before! Daddy woke me up and got me dressed for the chilly caverns. I was TERRIFIED!

But it looked really neat. Daddy kept me safe from all the things I thought were bad.

Snuggling in Daddy’s arms.

I didn’t like the fact that there were bats in the caverns. It didn’t matter that they were hibernating… they were still there!!!

After the left the caverns we headed to go mining for gems! Well, sifting dirt out of a bucket to see what we could find! It was really fun.

I really got into rinsing all the dirt off in the running water.

I found LOTS of neat things in my sifters.

They made me super happy!

Mommy was surprised that my attention span was as long as it was considering I was exhausted!

After dinner and a bath we checked out our treasures! 🙂

These may be the only shots of my feet touching the grounds today. I am still super grumpy. Mommy said I am cutting my bottom molars. I had a rough nights sleep again last night.

Anyway, we went to the NC Arboretum today and looked at flowers and went on a hike.

This is about the time I gave up walking. I made it just about to the top of the steps and cried for Mommy to pick me up!

Mommy and Daddy took turns on the over 2 mile hike carrying me. Daddy did a lot of the uphill parts. I really enjoyed the woods but I just did NOT want to put my feet on the ground.

After lunch in the car and then a frozen custard we came and got Grandma Jo and went out on a paddle boat. I was not even the slightest afraid. I am a natural boater! Mommy said the first time BReighton put on a life vest he screamed!!! I was cool with it.

Breighton and I got to sit up front. I liked looking at the water.

We went far out in the lake but I was not scared.

Mommy and Grandma Jo were exhausted. The boat was apparently not easy to paddle or steer. Daddy is luck he stayed on the shore!!

After quiet time we went for a hike in the neighborhood with Mommy. I found lots of cool things to carry around.

I dug in the dirt and played in the leaves.

The view was wonderful from the top of the hill.

I picked a lot of dandelions.

This was from inside of the “tree house square”. A huge group of trees in the shape of a square.

We checked out some bugs on branches that Breighton found.

I ran through the fields until I am exhausted.

I picked some more flowers with Breighton.

here is one I liked a lot!

I pretended to nap in the grass.

Then we went on a hike towards the lake and across the bridge.

I am not EXHAUSTED! 🙂